Isaiah 33

1 Woe [a cry of sorrow, a lamentation] to you, O destroyer [one who ruins, spoils] never destroyed [left untouched, unharmed], O traitor [deceiver, one who acts treacherously] never betrayed [deceived, wronged]! When you have finished [completed, ceased] destroying [laying waste, ruining], you will be destroyed [ruined, laid waste]. When you have finished [stopped, ended] betraying [deceiving, acting treacherously], you will be betrayed [deceived, wronged, treated falsely]. word study 2 O LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God], be gracious [show kindness, have mercy] to us! We wait [have waited patiently, trust] for You. Be our strength [arm, power] every morning [at the break of day, in new beginnings] and our salvation [deliverance, victory] in time [season, occasion] of trouble [distress, adversity]. word study 3 The peoples [nations, Gentiles] flee the thunder [loud noise, tumult] of Your voice [sound, expression]; the nations [Gentile groups, large crowds] scatter [are dispersed, broken apart] when You rise [lift Yourself up, exalt Yourself]. word study 4 Your spoil [plunder, booty], O nations, is gathered [collected, amassed] as by locusts [like a swarm of caterpillers]; like a swarm [mass, multitude] of locusts [grasshoppers, devouring insects] men sweep [rush, run] over it. word study 5 The LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] is exalted [set on high, lifted up], for He dwells [lives, stays] on high [in heaven, in a lofty place]; He has filled [made full, completed] Zion [the city of Jerusalem, God’s holy mountain] with justice [judgment, righteousness] and righteousness [virtue, morality]. word study 6 He will be the sure [firm, steadfast] foundation [rock, base] for your times [seasons, eras], a storehouse [treasury, depository] of salvation [deliverance, victory], wisdom [prudence, discernment], and knowledge [insight, understanding]. The fear [reverence, awe] of the LORD [Yehovah, the Almighty] is Zion’s treasure [wealth, riches]. word study 7 Behold [look, see], their valiant ones [heroes, brave warriors] cry aloud [cry out, shout] in the streets [outside, in the open]; the envoys [messengers, ambassadors] of peace [shalom, completeness and wellness] weep [cry, shed tears] bitterly [with distress, in sorrow]. word study 8 The highways are deserted [lie waste, desolate]; travel [wayfaring man ceaseth, journeying has stopped] has ceased. The treaty [covenant, agreement] has been broken [violated, split apart], the witnesses [cities, watchmen] are despised [rejected, regarded not], and human [mankind, enosh] life is disregarded [not esteemed, without value]. word study 9 The land [earth, territory] mourns [is sorrowing, lamenting] and languishes [weakens, fades away]; Lebanon [the mountain range] is ashamed [confounded, humbled] and decayed [withered away, dried up]. Sharon [the plain] is like a desert [wilderness, barren land]; Bashan [the fertile region] and Carmel [the fruitful hill] shake off [tremble, cast away] their leaves [fruits, foliage]. word study 10 “Now [at this time, in this moment] I will arise [stand up, rise to power],” says the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God]. “Now [in this instant] I will lift [exalt, raise] Myself up [to a position of authority]. Now [in this hour] I will be exalted [lifted up, elevated in pride]. word study 11 You conceive [bring forth, become pregnant with] chaff [dry grass, worthless material]; you give birth [beget, bring into existence] to stubble [dry straw, worthless residue]. Your breath [spirit, the breath of life] is a fire [a consuming flame, divine judgment] that will consume [devour, eat away] you. word study 12 The peoples [nations, groups of people] will be burned [consumed, destroyed] to ashes [like dust, completely destroyed], like thorns [prickly plants, troublesome things] cut down [removed, eliminated] and set ablaze [burned with fire, intensely heated]. word study 13 You who are [distant, far away] far off, hear [listen attentively, obey] what I have done [accomplished, made]; you who are near [close], acknowledge [recognize, know] My [divine] might [strength, power].” word study 14 The sinners [those who have committed crimes or offenses] in Zion [a mountain in Jerusalem, often used as another name for the city] are afraid [to dread, feeling fear or dread]; trembling [a state of trembling or quaking, often caused by fear or anxiety] grips the ungodly [hypocritical and godless]: “Who of us can dwell [to sojourn, to fear or dread something] with a consuming [devouring, eating] fire [burning, flame]? Who of us can dwell with everlasting [forever, always, describing something that lasts an eternity] flames [burning, a large fire or a burning mass of material]?” word study 15 He who walks [in a right manner, uprightly] righteously [with justice and morality] and speaks [with integrity, truthfully] with sincerity [uprightness, honesty], who refuses [to accept, despises] gain [profit, unjust acquisition] from extortion [oppression, unjust gain], whose hand [palm, grasp] never takes [holds, grasps] a bribe [a gift to influence, a corrupt payment], who stops [shuts, closes] his ears [the ability to hear, listen] against [from hearing, to avoid] murderous plots [bloodshed, evil plans] and shuts [closes tightly, blocks] his eyes [the source of sight, perception] tightly against [from seeing, to avoid] evil [bad, morally wrong, wickedness]— word study 16 he [the righteous one] will dwell [live, reside, abide] on the heights [high places, mountain strongholds]; the mountain fortress [stronghold of rocks, high tower] will be his refuge [safe haven, high refuge]; his food [bread, provision] will be provided [given, supplied] and his water [source of refreshment] assured [faithful, certain]. word study 17 Your eyes [the windows of your soul] will see the King [in all His royal majesty, wearing beautiful robes] in His beauty [glory, wonderful appearance] and behold a land [country, territory] that stretches [reaches, extends] afar [into the distance, very far off]. word study 18 Your [heart, will, and intellect] mind will ponder [muse on, meditate on] the former terror [fear, dread]: “Where [is the location of] is he who tallies [counts, records]? Where is he who weighs [measures, assesses]? Where is he who counts [recounts, inscribes] the towers [elevated structures, strongholds]?” word study 19 You will no longer see the insolent [fierce, strong, or shameless], a people whose speech [language or lips] is unintelligible [deep, strange, or unfathomable], who stammer [speak with a scorned or barbaric tongue] in a language [tongue] you cannot understand [comprehend or have discernment]. word study 20 Look upon Zion [the city of our sacred gatherings], the city of our appointed feasts [sacred seasons, solemnities]. Your eyes will see Jerusalem [the city of peace], a peaceful [quiet, secure] pasture [dwelling, habitation], a tent [tabernacle, dwelling place] that does not wander [is not moved, is firmly established]; its tent pegs [stakes, nails] will not be pulled up [removed, taken away], nor will any of its cords [ropes, bonds] be broken [torn, severed]. word study 21 But there [in that place, at that time] the Majestic One [the glorious Lord, full of splendor], our LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God], will be for us [as our refuge and strength] a place [a location of rest] of rivers [a flood] and wide [broad and spacious] canals, where no galley [a ship or fleet] with oars [for rowing or navigation] will row, and no majestic [great and powerful] vessel [tzi, a ship or boat] will pass [ya’avor, cross over or transition]. word study 22 For the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] is our Judge [to govern, vindicate, or punish], the LORD is our lawgiver [to decree, enact a law], the LORD is our King [the royal ruler, sovereign]. It is He [the divine Savior] who will save [rescue, deliver] us. word study 23 Your ropes [cords, measured areas of land] are slack [loosed, untied]; they cannot secure [strengthen, make strong] the mast [pole, flagstaff] or spread [break apart, scatter] the sail [flag, banner]. Then [at that time, in the past] an abundance [greatness, plenty] of spoils [prey, booty] will be divided [smoothed, made slippery], and even the lame [crippled, physically disabled] will carry off [seize violently] plunder [spoils, goods taken by force]. word study 24 And no resident [inhabitant, neighbor] of Zion will say, “I am [feel, have become] sick [weak, ill].” The people [nation, community] who dwell [live, reside] there will be forgiven [have their sin lifted, pardoned] of iniquity [moral evil, sin]. word study